Railway signal-torpedo



F. DUTCHERJ.

RAILWAY SIGNAL TORYPEDO.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.2.1921.

Patented July 19, 1921.

attorney;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK BUTCHER, 0F VERSAILLES, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO CENTRAL RAIL- WAY SIGNAL COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

RAILWAY SIGNAL TORPEDO.

Patented July 19, 1921.

Application filed February 2, 1921. Serial No. 441,717.

To all toll-ma it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK DU'rcHnn, a

citizen of the United States, residing at ing 1s a specification, reference being had.

therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in railway signal torpedoes, and more particu- .larly to that type of torpedo which is provided with means for attaching the torpedo to the rail head of a track.

The object of my invention is to prov de an improved railway signal torpedo which is rheap and simple to manufacture.

Another object of my invention is to provide a case for the torpedo explosive by wrapping it within a sheet.

A further object of my improved torpedo is the novel means of attaching to the case the rail-engaging member.

A still further object is to provide a torpedo which when exploded will not cause injury or damage by flying fragments oi metal, as has heretofore often been the case.

Other and further objects and improyements will appear in the following description and accompanying drawings.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a torpedo embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view, oi the opposite side to that shown in Fig. 1, of the torpedo.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken transverse the rail strap oi the torpedo.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken longitudinally of the rail strap of the torpedo.

Referring now to the drawings in which like parts are designated by similar reference munerals, 1 represents the explosive charge, preferably of tablet form, which is wrapped within several folds 2 of a sheet, which composes the case A, with extending end portions 3 and 4, that are folded inwardly thereupon, as shown in the drawings.

The inwardly folded end portions 3 and 4. are of a length approximately the same as the width of the torpedo charge 1, and the case A, and are folded one upon the other, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

The rail-engaging member or strap is designated at 5 and the preferable form thereof is lead which is very pliable, but it will be readily understood that other suitable pliable or spring metal could be used without departing from the spirit of my invention.

The member or strap 5 is placed upon the case A, whereupon the end lof the case is folded inward upon it. One end of a string or cord 6 is then placed upon the folded end 4 and the end 3 is then folded inward upon the case and the previously folded opposite end portion l.

In the preferred form the portions 3 and 4 are cemented in their folded positions, but this is not absolutely necessary to the op eration of my device, as will later appear.

It now becomes necessary to securely lasten the strap 5 to the torpedo case, as those skilled in the art well know that the strap must hold the torpedo when it is upon the track and is struck by a moving wheel. Should the strap be insufficiently secured to the torpedo, a moving wheel might break the fastening of the two and push the torpedo from the rail without exploding the charge therein.

I have fastened the rail strap to the case by means of the string or cord 6 in the fol lowing manner: As stated, both the extended end portions 3 and l are folded upon the rail. strap and one end of the cord 6 is between the folded portions, as shown at 7, while the opposite end thereof extends outwardly. The outwardly extending end of the cord is then passed under the strap 5 and carried across the folded end portions of the case and passed under the strap at the opposite end of the case and back across the case and the folded end portions in a line parallel to the first strand which passed over the case. This complete operation is repeated, making four strands of the coil passing over the case in separated parallel lines of two strands each, as shown plainly in Fig. 2.

The cord is now carried completely around the strap 5 and is passed across the opposite side of the case and under the strap at the ends thereof? in a similar manner to the wrapping first done on the other side of the case, thus making two parallel lines of cord of two strands each, shown in Fig. 1, as was the case in the first instance on the other side of the case.

When the cordhas been wrapped in the manner explained it is given one complete wrap around the strap 5 and pressed under the folded portion 3 as at 8, and having its end 9 extending from. the opposite end of the torpedo.

lVrapping the cord in the above described manner securel fastens the rail strap to the torpedo case. he cord strands around the strap and abutting the ends of the case hold the strap from lateral movement, while the cord strands across the case hold the strap from transverse movement and at the same time bind the folded end portions of the case inplace.

The torpedo is now complete and ready for use, but if desired it can be given a water-proofing bath so as to insure that dampness will not penetrate the case to the charge and prevent its explosion when put to use.

It will be readily understood that the exact'manner of passing the cord around the case of the strap can be varied in different ways without departing fromthe spirit of my invention, but the invention which I intend and desire to protect is to wrap the cords so that there are two parallel separated lines of cord around the case and strands around the strap and abutting the ends of the case.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim. and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination with a case of a railway signal torpedo and rail-attaching memher at one side thereof, of a string pressed around the rail-attaching member at points adjacent the edge of the case and across the case in separated parallel lines, and means for holding the string in its wrapped position.

2. A railway signal torpedo having a case composed of a. sheet wrapped around an explosive charge, a rail-engaging member embraced by the final folds of the case, a string extending from between the folds of the ease and extending in separated parallel line across the case, and the string embracing the rail-engaging member at opposite ends of the case, for the purpose described.

3. A railway signal torpedo having a case with an explosive therein, the vase having extended folded portions, a rail-engaging member embraced by the folded extended portions, a string extending from between the folded portions, the string crossing the ease in separated parallel lines and embracing the rail-engaging member at opposite ends of the case and almtting the ends thereof, and the free end of the string passing beneath the upper most folded portion, for the purpose described.

4. A railway signal torpedo having a case with an explosive therein, the ease having extended folded portions, a rail-engaging member embraced by the said folded extended portions, a string extending from between the folded portions, the string crossing the case and folded portions longitudinal the fold thereof in separated parallel lines and embracing the rail-engaging member at opposite ends of the case, the string crossing the opposite side of the case and embracing the rail-engaging member in a similar manner as in the first mentioned side of the case, the string passing around the rail-engaging member abutting the ends of the case, and the free end of the string passed beneath the uppermost folded portion, for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto allix my signature.

FRANK DUT( IHER. 

